Thorns FC sign Courtney Niemiec and Katarina Tarr

PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland Thorns FC today announced that the club has signed defenders Courtney Niemiec and Katarina Tarr. Per league and club policy, terms of the agreements were not disclosed.

Niemiec, 21, earned Atlantic 10 Conference Defensive Player of the Year recognition in 2012 and was one of La Salle University’s most consistent defenders during her senior season, garnering a first-team all-conference mention following the 2013 season. Anchoring a defense that allowed only 18 goals in 2013, Niemiec helped the Explorers to a third consecutive NCAA Tournament berth. A Philadelphia native, Niemiec recorded eight goals and 14 assists for La Salle, while featuring in 87 matches for the program as a four-year starter.

Tarr, 26, spent the last four seasons playing abroad in Germany, featuring in defense for Frauen Bundesliga club SGS Essen from 2010-2013. A Pacific Northwest native, the defender made 43 appearances (41 starts) for SGS Essen in all competitions over three seasons with the top-flight German club. Following a four-year career at the University of Missouri (2005-08), Tarr was drafted in the eighth round of the 2009 Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) College Draft by the Chicago Red Stars. The defender appeared in 14 matches for the Buffalo Flash of the USL W-League in 2009, before signing with German club Tennis Borussia Berlin in January 2010.